‘Believe it or not, I wasn’t crying about you.’ She shot him a look that confirmed it and didn’t even bother to say goodnight, just headed up the stairs and closed her door in relief.
Damn Abe for seeing her cry.
She took off her coat and then held in a choice word when there was a knock at the door.
‘Naomi?’
‘Go away,’ she called out.
‘I can’t do that,’ he replied. ‘Not without seeing for myself that you’re okay.’
The door opened and she stood in her dress and shoes, her face tear-streaked but angry. ‘Well, you can see that I am.’ Then she looked down at the bottle of champagne and two glasses he was holding. ‘I’m not in the mood for celebrating.’
‘That’s okay,’ he said. ‘Neither am I.’
Yet he made no move to go.
‘Why should I talk to you?’ Naomi said.
‘Because there’s a lot to talk about.’
‘I don’t want to hear your excuses.’
‘Good,’ Abe replied, ‘because I don’t make them.’
He made her smile, albeit it was a watery one. And she did want to hear what he had to say, so she pulled open the door and let him in and they headed through to her small lounge.
Naomi sat on the sofa and watched as he expertly poured two glasses and handed her one. He looked at her shaking hand as she took it, and then at the slight pull of her face as she took a sip and the way she moved away a touch when he sat down on the sofa.
He knew not to dive in too deep straight away so he asked something that had been troubling him since he’d spoken to Barb.
‘What’s wrong with Barb?’
Naomi swallowed. ‘I shouldn’t have said anything.’
‘Too late for that.’
‘Barb’s worried, they all are. They really don’t know what’s happening. And they’re sad too, as well as hopeful. She said to me tonight that she hoped Jobe would be able to come with them next year. I know they’re just staff to you, but—’
‘Firstly,’ Abe said, ‘they’re my father’s staff.’
‘I know.’
‘When Jobe went into the hospital it was for further treatment. It’s only been a few days since he’s accepted that it’s terminal.’ Abe was silent for a moment. ‘I haven’t.’
Naomi swallowed and suddenly felt terribly small.
Well, not thin and interesting, but she’d just shrunk inside at her own insensitivity.
‘I’m starting to, though,’ Abe admitted. ‘I want him to fight.’
‘It must be so hard to let him go.’
Abe nodded. ‘I always thought we’d have more time to sort things out...’ He didn’t elaborate, didn’t feel the need to, because it felt as if she understood. He dragged his mind back to what the conversation was about. ‘I will speak to them,’ Abe said. ‘Stupidly, I thought it might be better to wait until after Christmas...’
‘I’m sorry,’ Naomi said. ‘I shouldn’t have said anything.’
‘No, I’m very glad that you did. Leave that with me.’